Research Writing Assignment

After reading and annotating two articles about illegal immigration I had new thoughts and new feelings about the topic. Illegal immigration continues to be a controversial topic throughout the world including in the U.S. I think that everyone should be allowed into a country unless they are a terrorist, of course. People who migrant, come into a new country just to get a better life, I don't see nothing wrong in that. I wish people would let them be, after all they don't mean harm.




In one of the articles it stated, "Other GOP candidates for governor have said they would push for tough laws like Arizona's." I feel that this is unnecessary because illegal immigrants have done nothing to be treated like this. I feel like it is slavery all over again because they are treated very poorly. In the United States, it prohibits employers from hiring illegal immigrants. Some employers ignore the regulations and hire illegal immigrants anyway, but this is not a good thing. The employers takes advantage of them and they do not pay them well, or they make them work in unsafe conditions. I hope that life will be better for all those undocumented people in the world in the future.




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Reading the articles about homelessness actually make me feel terrible. Homeless people are cold and hungry outside right now, while I'm busy typing away. The sad thing is that the majority of people ignore them. Avoiding eye contact, or crossing the other side of the street when a homeless person is walking, is something I see in Brooklyn, but a lot more in Manhattan. This has made me realize that we have become selfish people. As long as we're okay and not them is something I know many people think. There was this article about a guy named Tony, lost his job, became a drug addict, and became homeless. Just one mistake can change your life forever.




Based on my research, I learned that poverty is the main cause of homelessness. I feel like this could be the topic for my story. I'm not sure whether to do it from the homeless person's point of view or not. Homelessness is a very strong topic, but I'm pretty sure I could pull this off and turn it into a children's book.

November Challenge

        The book Ties that Bind, Ties that break, by Lensey Namioka, has become one of my favorite books. The book is about a girl named Ailin and her journey through life after refusing to have her feet bound. She was one of the few who broke the tradition and was sort of like an embarrassment to the Tao family.


       From the start of the book you knew that Ailin was different from her sisters. She always ran around and caused trouble. Unlike her sisters, she did not want to waste her time for lady pursuits. Being different came with consequences. After not having her feet bound, the family of her intended husband broke the engagement. Her future was not very bright either. She could either become a nun, a farmer's wife, or be a concubine of  a family. All of this happened just because she did not have bound feet.


       Foot binding is a Chinese tradition that began at around 900 A.D. The process usually began at the ages four through seven, and before the arch of the foot had time to fully develop. At first, the foot is put in hot water, then lightly massaged. All except for the big toe is broken and pressed to the bottom of the foot. The foot is then bound with strips of cloth, which keep the foot from growing. The purpose of foot binding was to identify women of high-class. 


       I don't understand why people would do this! Reading about foot binding left me with my mouth opened. Does having tiny feet actually make you more beautiful? If I had to choose between having my feet bounded or not I would definitely say no. It is painful and I just can't believe it was considered beautiful and a symbol of gentility.


       Ties that bind, Ties that break, is a book that I recommend to anyone. It has taught me so much and made me realized that I don't know much about other countries and their history/culture. Lensey Namioka, kept me on the edge of my seat and I know you will feel the same if you read it.


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Victor Martinez's Parrot in the Oven, is an amazing book, it is no wonder why it won the National Book Award. He has such a way with words, that you can feel what Manny's feeling. Whenever he's mad at his drunken father, you can feel that anger too. When he's embarrassed, you can almost feel your face turning bright red. Because of this you could easily relate to Manny.


Throughout the book, Manny had trouble finding himself. First, all he wanted was to be the person people would look up to, not the easy target to beat up. Manny believed that the gang symbolized manliness and respect. He tried to get into a gang, but then realized he did not want to be a part of it. There was many things holding him back though. His dad, his cultural background, and money. I guess at the end he realized all he needed was his family.


I, like many others, want to be something in my life. Manny went through a lot just to figure out who he really was and what he wanted to do with his life.


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"When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I managed to survive at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood."  --Frank McCourt


The first time I read Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt was in seventh grade. I enjoyed it the first time, but loved it the second. It's a memoir, that's a good and bad thing. It's a bad thing because everything that is written is true. Everything that is written is true! This includes when he tried to dance to when he got Typhoid fever. Let metell you, It's true when he said he didn't have a good childhood.






He had a drunken father and six siblings in total. His family was poor and always had trouble paying the rent and feeding the children. Their father drank all the money they got from the dole(welfare). When Margaret was born everything changed. He never went to the Pub and never tasted a drop. He truly loved her, he tried to change and mend all that he had caused. Sadly, Margerate died weeks after she was born. He drank and drank and did the same when his twins, Oliver and Eugene, died. His friends and teachers picked on him, thinking he was stupid, but he was a very itlligent little boy. Throughout the book, Frank learned from his father's mistake and grew in character. At the end, you can say that everyting payed off, he made it to America.


Anyone can learn something just by reading this book. Frank McCourt is a perfect example that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Social Awareness Assignment #3

Another Day in Paradise
By Phil Collins

She calls out to the man on the street
"Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've got nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?"

He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there

Oh
Think twice
'Cause it's another day for you and me in paradise
Oh
Think twice
'Cause it's another day for you
You and me in paradise

(Think about it)

She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she's been crying
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
She can't walk but she's trying

Oh
Think twice
'Cause it's another day for you and me in paradise
Oh
Think twice
It's another day for you
You and me in paradise

Just think about it

Oh Lord!
Is there nothing more anybody can do?
Oh-oh whoa Lord!
There must be something you can say

You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there
Probably been moved on from every place
Cause she didn't fit there

Oh 
Think twice
'Cause it's another day for you and me in paradise
Oh 
Think twice
It's just you another day for you 
You and me in paradise (Another day in paradise, ooh)

Just think about it
Hmm-mmm
Think about it

It's just another day 
For you and me
In paradise
It's just another day
For you and me
In paradise (Para, paradise)

(Paradise) It's just another day
For you and me (Ohh-ooh)
(Just think about it) In paradise
(Paradise) It's just another day
For you and me 
(Just think about it) In paradise
(Para, paradise)

(Ooh-ooh, in paradise) It's just another day
For you and me
(Hmm-mmm, paradise)In paradise
It's just another day (Paradise)
For you and me (Just you and me)
(In paradise) In paradise
(Para, Paradise)

Reflection: It is obvious that this song is talking about homelessness. People don't realize it, but even in this wealthy country there are millions of homeless people. Homeless people are going to sleep hungry, cold, and on the concrete ground tonight while you'll be cozy under you covers. Hearing and reading this song has made me realize that almost everyone ignores a homeless person. They feel bad, but they don't help at all. I wonder how they feel when the are ignored? Do they feel hatred? Envy? Do they just want to stop living?

I, like many people, never have to worry about eating something because I could always look in the refrigerator and get something to eat. If I'm ever cold I know to get up and get a blanket out of the closet. Life is not like this for homeless people. They constantly worry whether or not they are going to eat today or throughout the week. They beg for money and look in trashcans just to get something in their stomachs. After learning much more about life for a homeless person, I have learned never to take anything for granted.

Social Awareness Assignment #2

A Pair Once Again

Remember the promise Babajan?
Remember me?
It has been 9 years
What does soon mean?

Everyday I sit and wait
Hoping to see your eyes, your smile, your face
I have one shoe, you have the other
Why did they have to take you away?

Babajan I'm waiting
The war should almost be over
You told me we would make a pair once again